PSYC1003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Abusive Power And Control
Document Summary
Consciousness 5. 1 describe the two main functions of consciousness. Consciousness refers to the subjective awareness of mental events. States of consciousness are qualitatively di erent patterns of subjective experience, including ways of experiencing both internal and external events. Consciousness can be measured through self-report questionnaires, brain imaging techniques and behavioural observation. Consciousness plays at least two functions: monitoring the self and the environment and controlling thought and behaviour. Consciousness probably evolved as a mechanism for directing behaviour in adaptive ways that was superimposed on more primitive psychological processes that continue to function without conscious awareness. Attention refers to the process of focusing conscious awareness, providing heightened sensitivity to a limited range of experience requiring more extensive information processing. Attention consists of at least three functions: orienting to sensory stimuli, controlling behaviour and the contents of consciousness and maintaining alertness.
